Changes to immigration rules took centre-stage in yesterday's Queen's Speech, which introduced new immigration bill to “attract people who will contribute” but “deters those who will not” is one of the flagship pieces of legislation in the Government’s plans for the next year.

It will prevent illegal immigrants from getting driving licences, increase fines for businesses using illegal workers and require private landlords to check the immigration status of their tenants.

The bill will make it easier to remove people from the UK, limiting the right to appeal against deportation and specifying that all foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes will be removed except in "extraordinary circumstances".

The legislation is also intended to ensure that “foreign nationals who commit serious crimes shall, except in extraordinary circumstances, be deported.”

It follows new guidance issued by the Home Secretary to judges last year – and may lead to a new stand-off between ministers and human-rights courts.

The high-point in concern also comes just days after Ukip made major gains in local elections with a sales pitch that heavily emphasised the need for Britain to reduce immigration and leave the EU. The importance of "Europe", mentioned by 21 per cent of British adults, has remained mostly stable since May 2012, when 19 per cent said it was the most important issue facing Britain.

Joe Twyman, director of political and social research at YouGov, said: "The reason it has grown steadily over the last year and peaked at this all-time high now is to do with the expansion of the EU to include Romania and Bulgaria. They are concerned the influx of foreign nationals will negatively affect the economy and jobs market.

"Immigration is something people perceive to be a problem for the country and is only growing as people perceive the Government as failing to curb the numbers coming to the UK."